Missile projecting device



Feb. 9, 1937. A DOUGLAs 2,069,821

MISSILE PROJECTING DEVICE Original Filed Sept. 26, 1934 I A \tllllllllillllllllllll IZVIIIIIIIIIIII.

Hqzrs A-Dou91qs IN VLNTOK rmWz/w AT T0 KNLTS Patented Feb. 9, 1937UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application September 26, 1934, Serial No.745,552 Renewed July 2, 1936 16 Claims.

This invention relates to missile projecting devices, and has for anobject the provision of a new and improved device of this character.

In the drawing accompanying this specification and forming a part ofthis application, I have shown, for purposes of illustration, oneembodiment which my invention may assume, and in the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a missile projecting deviceconstructed according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view of the deviceshown in Figure l, disclosing the operative parts in a normal positionof rest;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, and disclosing the operativeparts in position to discharge the missile;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one end of thebow, and showing the manner in which the bow string is attached thereto,while Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of theprojecting device, showing another 5 embodiment of the invention.

As shown in the drawing, the invention comprises a missile projectingdevice, including a bow 6 of suitable resilient material, to the ends ofwhich is secured a bow string 1 looped and knotted as best shown at 8 inFigure 4.

The bow 6 is perforated at a central point, as indicated at 3, andextending through the perforation 9 is a combined cylinder and barrelmember, the cylinder It being of substantial diameter,

open at one end, as indicated at H, and the opposite end l2 snuglyfitted into'the perforation 9 in the bow 6, the cylinder H) beingprovided with an exterior annular flange l3 which abuts the innersurface of the bow 6, and being further provided with an annular flangel4 closely fitting against the opposite surface of the bow B, the latterflange being formed from an initially cylindrical projection, indicatedin dotted lines in Figure 3, which is upset by a suitable operationsubsequent to insertion through the perforation 9, resulting in the bow6 being firmly clamped between the flanges l3 and M.

The cylinder H) has a bore l5 tapered at its inner end and furtherreduced, as indicated at I6, and immediately in advance of the reducedbore l6, there is provided a rounded seat I! for accommodation of a ballmissile l8, and the rounded seat i1 merges with the cylindrical bore 19formed in the barrel 2b. The barrel 20 projects forwardly of the bow 5aconsiderable distance and is preferably formed integrally with thecylinder member H]; in fact the cylinder l0 and barrel 20 may be boredfrom one casting resulting in a strong and accurately furnished con- 7struction. A piston 2| is reciprocably mounted 5 in the bore I5 of thecylinder ID and is provided with a rod 22 having a perforation 23 in itsend through which the bow string freely passes.

In Figure 5 there is shown a slightly different embodiment of themissile projecting device; in 10 this embodiment the bow 25, cylinder26, flanges 21 and 28, barrel 29 and piston 30 correspond to the parts6, I0, 13, M, 20, and 2| heretofore referred to, and a bow string, notshown, similar to the bow string l is also used. The interior con- 15struction of the cylinder 26 and barrel 29 differs, however, in order toaccommodate a different type of missile, such as a dart 3|, the bore 32of the barrel 29 being of a size to snugly accommodate the shaft of thedart 3|, and the passage 33 is 20 made smaller than the diameter of thedart shaft, and communicates with the bore of the cylinder 26 in thesame manner as before described,

In operation a ball I8 is inserted into the bore I9 of the barrel 20 soas to rest against the seat 5 I1, the bow 6 being then grasped andsupported by one hand of the user, and the'stringl pulled back to bendthe bow 6 and retract the piston 2|;

when the string 1 is released air is compressed within the cylinder l0,and ejects the ball l8 from 30 the barrel 20. The construction shown inFigure 5 operates in a similar manner.

It will be appreciated that the device is manipulable exactly in themanner of an ordinary bow, yet is more powerful and accurate in itsshoot- 35 ing qualities than the ordinary bow and arrow, and by reasonof its construction is ideally suitable for use as a toy, though equallysuitable in large size as an effective weapon.

Under these circumstances it will be apparent ,40 to those skilled inthe art that I have accomplished at least the principal object of myinvention. On the other hand, it also will be apparent to those skilledin the art that the disclosure herein is illustrative only, and may bevarious- 1,5 ly and extensively modified, while still retaining part orall of the advantages of my invention, and without departing from myinvention, and that my invention in no sense is limited to this or anyspecific embodiment or disclosure. 5,0

Iclaim: v

1. A bow means operated pneumatic missileprojector, comp-rising: air 7compressor means; missile accommodating means; andbowmean's, including abow and a bow string, connected'to 55 having a passage for conductingthe compressed air into said missile accommodating means to project amissile therefrom; and said bow string andisaid bow cooperating tooperate, saidcom pressor means when said bow means are released.

3. A bow means actuated pneumatic .missilea projector, comprising: bowmeans, including a bow and a bow string operatively connected; air

compressor means, functionally interposed be-,

tween said bow string and said bow whereby said bow means when releasedfrom tensioned position operates said air compressor means; andsupporting means, for supporting a missile in position to be projected;said projector having a passage leading from said air compressor meansto in rear of a missile so supported, whereby operationjof said ,aircompressor means by said bow means delivers compressed air in rear ofsaid missile to project said missile;

missile so supported, whereby operation of said piston by said bow meansdelivers compressed air in rear of said missile to project said missile.

7. A bow means actuated pneumatic missileprojector', comprising: bowmeans, including a bow and a bow string operatively connected; aircompressor means, including a cylinder, and a piston operable in saidcylinder, said cylinder being connected to said bow, and said pistonhaving a self-adjusting relatively movable connection with said bowstring, whereby said bow, ir'neans when released from tensioned positionmoves said piston with respect to said cylinder to compress air withinsaid cylinder; and supporting means, for supporting a missile inposition to be projected; said projector having a passage leading fromsaid cylinder to in rear of a missile so supported, whereby operation ofsaid piston by said bow means delivers compressed 4. A bow meansactuated pneumatic missilei projector, comprising: bow means, includinga bow and a bow string operatively connected; air compressor meanscarried by said bow, and connected to said bow string, whereby said howmeans when released from tensioned position operates said air compressormeans; and supporting means, for supporting a missile in position to beprojected; said projector having a passage leading from said aircompressor means to in rear of a missile so supported, whereby operationof said air compressor means by said bow means delivers compressed air'in rear of said missile to project said missile.

5. A bow means actuated pneumatic missileprojector, comprising: bowmeans, including a bow and a bow string operatively connected; aircompressor means, including a cylinder means, and a piston meansoperable in said cylinder means, one of said means being connected tosaid bow, and the other of said means being connected tov said bowstring, whereby said bow means when released from tensioned positionmoves said piston means with respect to said cylinder means to compressair within said cylinder means; and supporting means, for supporting amissile in position to be projected; said projector having a passageleading from said cylinder means to in rear of a missile so supported,whereb-y operation of said' compressor means, including a cylinder, anda piston operable in said cylinder, said cylinder being connected tosaid bow, and said piston being connected to said bow string, wherebysaid bow means when released from tensioned position moves said pistonwith respect to said cylinder )to compress air withinsaidj'cylinder';and supporting means, forfsupporting a missile in position to beprojected ;;saidprojector having a passage leading'from said cylinder toin rear of a air in rear of said missile to project said missile.

8. A bow means actuated pneumatic missileprojector, comprising: 1bowmeans, including a bow and a bow string operatively connected; air

compressor means, including a cylinder, and a piston freely insertableand withdrawable with respect to said cylinder, said cylinder beingconnected to said bow, and said piston having a connection with said bowstring, whereby said bow means when released from tensioned positionmoves said piston with respect to said cylinder to compress air withinsaid cylinder, the said connection of said bow string with said pistonserving to maintain said piston assembled with said cylinder; andsupporting means, for supporting a missile in position to be projected;said projector having a passage leading from said cylinder to in rear ofa missileso supported, whereby operation of said piston by said bowmeans delivers compressed air in rear'of said missile to project saidmissile.

9. A bow means actuated pneumatic missileprojector, comprising: bowmeans, including a bow and a bow string operatively connected; aircompressor means, including a cylinder, and a piston freely insertableand withdrawable with respect to said cylindensaid cylinder beingconnected to said bow, and-said piston having a selfadjusting relativelymovable connection with said bow string, whereby said bow means whenreleased from tensioned position moves said piston air in rear of saidmissile to project said missile.-

10. A bow means operated pneumatic missileprojector, comprising: bowmeans, including a bow and a bow string; air'compressor means; missileaccommodating means; said projector having a passage for conducting thecompressed air into said missile accommodating means to project amissile therefrom; said how string and said bow cooperating to operatesaid compressor means. when said bow means are released; and a barrelcarried by said projector, having a bore: communicable with said missileaccommodating.

means, and operable to exert a directional in fiuence upon a missileissuing therefrom.

.11. A bow'means operated pneumatic missiles projector, comprising: bowmeans, including at" bow and a bow string; air compressor means; missileaccommodating means; said projector having a passage for conducting thecompressed air into said missile accommodating means to project amissile therefrom; said bow string and said bow cooperating to operatesaid compressor means when said bow means are released; and a barrelcarried by said projector, projecting in advance of said bow, having abore communicable with said missile accommodating means, operable toexert a directional influence upon a missile issuing therefrom, andproviding an extension which may be aimed in the manner of a gun barrel.

12. A bow means operated pneumatic missileprojector, comprising: bowmeans, including a bow and a bow string; air compressor means, includinga cylinder, and a piston operable to compress air in said cylinder;missile accommodating means; said projector having a passage forconducting the compressed air from said cylinder into said missileaccommodating means to project a missile therefrom; said bow string andsaid bow cooperating .to operate said compressor means when said bowmeans are released; and a barrel, having a bore communicable with saidmissile accommodating means, and operable to exert a directionalinfluence upon a missile issuing therefrom, said barrel and saidcylinder being of integral formation.

13. A bow means operated pneumatic missileprojector, comprising: bowmeans, including a bow and a bow string; air compressor means includinga cylinder and piston; missile accommodating means; said projectorhaving a passage for conducting the compressed air into said missileaccommodating means to project a missile therefrom; said bow string andsaid bow cooperating to operate said compressor means when said bowmeans are released; and a barrel, having a bore communicable with saidmissile accommodating means, said cylinder and said barrel comprising asingle integral fitting having spaced bores connected by a constrictedpassage cooperating to define said missile accommodating means.

14. A bow means operated pneumatic missileprojector, comprising: bowmeans, including a bow and a bow string, said bow having a centralperforation; a tubular fitting including the cylinder of air compressormeans; missile accommodating means, having a passage for conducting thecompressed air into said missile accommodating means to project amissile therefrom; and said bow string and said bow cooperating tooperate said compressor means when said bow means are released; saidfitting extending through the perforation in said bow, and having spacedabutment means fitting against opposite sides of said bow, one of saidabutments means comprising a portion upset from said tubular fittingsubsequent to insertion thereof through the perforation in said bow.

l5. A bow means operated pneumatic missileprojector, comprising: bowmeans, including a bow and a bow string; air compressor means, includinga cylinder, and a piston operable to compress air in said cylinder;missile accommodating means; said projector having a passage forconducting the compressed air from said cylinder into said missileaccommodating means to project a missile therefrom; said bow string andsaid bow cooperating to operate said compressor means when said bowmeans are released; and a barrel carried by said projector, projectingin advance of said bow, having a bore communicable with said missileaccommodating means, operable to exert a directional influence upon amissile issuing therefrom, and providing an extension which may be aimedin the manner of a gun barrel; said barrel and said cylinder being ofintegral formation.

16. A bow means operated pneumatic missileprojector, comprising: bowmeans, including a bow and a bow string, said bow having a centralperforation; air compressor means, including an integrally formedtubular fitting having an air compressing cylinder, missileaccommodating means, and a barrel communicating with said missileaccommodating means, said fitting having a passage for conducting thecompressed air into said missile accommodating means to project amissile therefrom and'through said barrel; and said bow string and saidbow cooperating to operate said compressor means when said bow means arereleased, said fitting extending through the perforation in said bow,and having spaced abutment means fitting against opposite sides of saidbow, one of said abutment means comprising a portion upset from saidtubular fitting subsequent to insertion thereof through the perforationin said bow.

HARRY A. DOUGLAS.

